LouiseSauvageOAM

Speaker Profile

Louise Sauvage is recognised and acknowledged for her unique athleticism and outstanding success as a wheelchair track and road athlete.

At age 18 Louise declared that she was to become a professional athlete and would earn a living from her sport. 15 years later she defied those doubting her and retired as one of Australia's most successful athletes. Along the way Louise has changed the perception of elite athletes with a disability and the sports they compete in. She has helped create awareness, education and acceptance of disability in general in the eyes and minds of the media and the public.

Louise dominated the sport of wheelchair track and road racing during her career winning a total of nine gold and four silver medals from four Paralympic Games. She represented Australian at three Olympic Games winning two gold and one bronze in the 800m women's wheelchair demonstration race – the highlight – Gold in front of 110,000 spectators in her home town at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Louise is a Commonwealth Games Silver medalist and five time gold medalist at the IAAF World Athletic Championships. She recorded world records in every distance on the track from 100m to 5000m and has first place victories in some of the worlds most prestigious road races including four Boston Marathon titles.

Louise has completed a Post Graduate in Applied Science (Coaching) and is now employed by the NSW Institute of Sport with the National Wheelchair Track and Road Program as an Assistant National Coach working with Australia's future champions.